Eight candidates nominated to succeed UK PM Johnson

FILE PHOTO: 10 Downing Street is seen as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, London, Britain, April 10, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Eight candidates will compete to replace Boris Johnson as Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party, the committee in charge of organising the leadership contest said on Tuesday.

The nominated candidates were Kemi Badenoch, Suella Braverman, Jeremy Hunt, Penny Mordaunt, Rishi Sunak, Tom Tugendhat, Liz Truss and Nadhim Zahawi.

Lawmakers Sajid Javid and Rehman Chishti had expressed their intention to run, but withdrew before the final list of candidates was announced. Candidates had to receive a minimum of 20 nominations to make it to that list.

Former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak arrives at an event to launch his campaign to be the next Conservative leader and Prime Minister, in London, Britain, July 12, 2022. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

The first round of voting begins on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Alistair Smout and William James; editing by Michael Holden)

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss walks outside Downing Street in London, Britain, July 12, 2022. REUTERS/Toby Melville

British Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat launches a campaign for party leadership in London, Britain, July 12, 2022. REUTERS/Toby Melville

British Chancellor of the Exchequer Nadhim Zahawi walks outside Downing Street in London, Britain, July 12, 2022. REUTERS/Toby Melville

FILE PHOTO: British Attorney General and Conservative leadership candidate Suella Braverman attends the Conservative Way Forward launch event in London, Britain, July 11, 2022. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

FILE PHOTO: MP Jeremy Hunt speaks during Health Secretary Matt Hancock's update on the COVID-19 situation, at the House of Commons in London, Britain April 19, 2021. UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/Handout via REUTERS

FILE PHOTO: British MP Penny Mordaunt arrives for a meeting to address the government's response to the coronavirus outbreak, at Cabinet Office in London, Britain March 12, 2020. REUTERS/Simon Dawson/File Photo